CRICKET: The Dalyellup Beach Settlers remain undefeated after the first three rounds of the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association season following their win over Colts on Saturday.
Dalyellup’s even spread of contributors has proved to be a force this season and Colts could not chase down the total set by the consistent Settlers.
Tim Cooper was a driving force for the Settlers with a knock of 65 runs putting his side in a strong position.
Cooper teamed up with Corey Fagan (38 runs) to post an opening partnership of 66 runs before Fagan was bowled by Doug Waghorn.
Number three Matt Fink also gave Dalyellup’s run total a boost with his score of 29.
Matt Green (16) and Greg Manchip (11) scored double figures as the Settlers finished on 6/180.
Colts’ bowling proved expensive for the reigning champions with Deon Attard claiming the team’s best figures with 2/29.
The chase of 181 to win started poorly for Colts with Troy Lewis dismissed early.
Lewis managed only two runs before being caught out and leaving Colts at 1/15 early.
Kyle Davis followed suit quickly for a duck.
A good stint at the crease between Stuart Boyle and Murray Goodwin put Colts back on track.
Boyle hit 31 runs before being caught while Goodwin managed a game-high 73 before he too was dismissed by a catch.
But a collapse late in the order saw the Colts team fall.
Attard was the only batsman after the Goodwin dismissal to post a double figure score, but his 22 could not get his side over the line.
Dalyellup bowler Ben Cooper was a problem for the Colts batsmen as he claimed four wickets while Riley Hodgson finished with two.
Next week Colts will tackle Marist in the latest instalment of a historic rivalry while Dalyellup will enjoy the bye while still undefeated.
The Hay Park Redbacks have put their first points of season 2014-15 on the board with a low scoring victory over Leschenault.
Ryan Lybourne (15), Steven Florance (20), Jono Whitney (11) and Mark Steven (27) made double figures for Hay Park but a constant fall of wickets made the going difficult.
The other seven batsmen were able to contribute a combined 10 runs to see the side bowled out for 95.
Luke Slater was the pick of the Leschenault bowlers with three wickets.
After the innings change, the Green Caps would have felt confident they could chase down the meagre score.
Tom Buchanan (10) and Matt Buchanan (23) got the side away to a good start but with eight batsmen all falling for single figures around them, the pressure was on.
Number 11 Jason Shine provided a brief glimmer of hope as he smashed a boundary and two sixes on his way to 22 but was bowled with his side four runs short of the winning target.
Hay Park bowlers Ben Saunders and Shaun Bulman both claimed three wickets to guide their side to victory.
Winning the toss and batting first, Eaton got away to a good start through openers Justin Prentice (17) and Mick Rogers (12).
Glen Dehring (35) and James Hillery (36) pushed the total along but Stuart Clark, Phillip Coulthard and Justin Leibeck all fell without troubling the scorers.
Eaton were dismissed in the 37th over for 134 with Marist’s Reece O’Connell the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.
In reply, Marist opener Matt Foreman fell for just 8 before his partner Corey Fitt notched 61.
Supported by O’Connell (23), Shane Cristaldi (13) and Paul Reynolds (15) the Marist boys chased down the winning target in 36 overs with six wickets to spare.
